Olympic National Park Fishing and Shellfish Regulations Effective May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009 Olympic National Park is managed as a natural area. The primary objectives of the fisheries management program at Olympic National Park are to preserve and restore native fishes and their habitats and provide recreational fishing opportunities for the enjoyment of park visitors. All waters in Olympic National Park are closed to the removal of fish, shellfish, aquatic plants, and wildlife except as provided below. All waters as described below are open to fishing from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset. To protect the park s fish and aquatic resources, these regulations are subject to change. Please see locally posted regulation changes and notices and visit the park s website at http:/www.nps.gov/olym/regs/fishregs.htm. Licenses A Washington State Recreational Fishing License is NOT required to fish in Olympic National Park EXCEPT when fishing in the Pacific Ocean from shore. No license is required to harvest surf smelt. A Washington State catch record card is REQUIRED to fish for salmon or steelhead and they must be accounted for as if caught in State waters. A Washington State Shellfish/Seaweed license is REQUIRED for harvest of shellfish from the Pacific Coastal Area. Harvest of seaweed, kelp, and unclassified species is prohibited (see Marine Fish and Shellfish Seasons and Limits). Legal Gear Recreational fishing in freshwater areas of Olympic National Park is restricted to artificial lures with single, barbless hooks (see Freshwater Seasons and Limits for exceptions); anglers must only use a single rod, reel and line that are under immediate control; the use of seines, traps, drugs, explosives, and nets are prohibited (except a knotless net may be used to land a legally hooked fish or dip-net smelt). Please report violators to 360-565-3115 or contact the nearest Park Ranger. Fish Consumption Advisory. Locations and Fish: PJ Lake (brook trout), Hoh Lake (brook trout), and Lake Ozette (largemouth bass). Pollutant: Mercury. Some fish exceeded the human consumption threshold for mercury. The National Park Service recommends following the Washington Department of Health guidelines for safe consumption of recreationally caught fish (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/). Boats and Rafts Fishing from boats or other floating devices is permitted on the following rivers: Ozette, Queets below Tshletshy Creek, Hoh downstream from the launch site located near the park boundary above the South Fork confluence, Hoh in the Pacific Coastal area, Quinault below the North Shore Quinault River Bridge, Elwha below Glines Canyon Dam, Quillayute and Dickey rivers. Motorized craft are only on the Quinault below the North Shore Quinault River Bridge, in the park s coastal portions of the Quillayute, Dickey, and Hoh Rivers (in the Pacific Coastal Area), and in Lake Mills, Lake Crescent, and Lake Ozette.
Bait Bait is defined as any artificial or natural substance that attracts fish by scent and/or flavor. Most freshwater areas of Olympic National Park are managed as Selective or Quality fishing areas where bait is prohibited. Areas open to bait fishing are listed below under "Freshwater Seasons and Limits." The following are prohibited in all park waters: possession of illegal bait; use of live or dead minnows, chub or other freshwater bait fish; attracting, collecting, or feeding fish by using fish eggs, roe, or food; and digging for bait. Size and Possession Limits for Salmon 12 inch minimum size limit. Adult chinook are 24 inches or more and adult coho are 20 inches or more. Jack chinook are less than 24 inches and jack coho are less than 20 inches. Possession limit is two daily limits in fresh form. Hatchery Fish Identification and Catch and Release Hatchery salmon and steelhead are identified by a healed scar where the adipose or ventral fins have been removed, and harvest is only in areas and seasons listed below. The only exception is in the Queets River where hatchery steelhead are identified by a dorsal fin height of less than 2 1/8 inches between November 15 and February 28. All wild steelhead (unmarked and identified by intact adipose fin) must be released in Olympic National Park. All other wild (unmarked) fish species must be released unless specifically in Freshwater Season and Limits below. Fishing for bull trout and Dolly Varden is prohibited in all park waters, and these species must be safely released if incidentally captured. RELEASING AND HANDLING FISH It is unlawful to totally remove salmon, steelhead, or bull trout/dolly Varden from the water if it is unlawful to retain those fish. Please follow these guidelines when releasing fish: 1) Land the fish as quickly as possible to minimize the fish s fatigue. 2) Leave the fish in the water while removing the hook. 3) Wet your hands and do not squeeze or hold the fish by the eyes or gills. Minimize time out of water for photos. 4) If the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line and leave the hook in. 5) Safely release fish in quiet water, near point of capture.
Waters Closed to Fishing The portion of Kalaloch Creek downstream from Highway 101 bridge and the area used for domestic water supply (as posted). Elwha River from the Lake Mills spillway downstream 400 feet. Sol Duc River from 100 yard upstream to 250 yards downstream (or as posted) at the Salmon Cascades. Freshwater Seasons and Limits Area Species Season Gear Daily Limit All beaver ponds, streams, All species June 1 Oct. 31 except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained tributaries, and rivers (not listed below or under Waters Closed to Fishing ) including: Dosewallips, Duckabush Elwha River, Gray Wolf, Quinault (East and North Forks), Sol Duc (North Fork and Mainstem), South Fork Calawah Rivers Creeks in Coastal Area of ONP: Cedar, Goodman, Kalaloch, and Mosquito Creeks All species June 1 Feb. 28 except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained Bogachiel River, mainstem All species June 1 Apr. 15 except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained Dickey River, Pacific Coastal Salmon July 1 Aug. 31 Daily limit 6. No more than 2 adults may be retained. Release wild Area only from Mar. 1-Apr. 30 Chinook and wild coho. Sept. 1 Oct. 31 and from Sept. 1-Oct. 31. Bait, Daily limit 6. Up to 3 adults may be retained. Up to 2 adults treble and barbed hooks all may be Chinook. Release wild coho. Nov. 1-Nov. 30 other dates. Daily limit 6. Up to 3 adults may be retained. A total of 2 adults may be Chinook and wild coho. June 1 Apr. 30 2 cutthroat trout or 2 hatchery steelhead or one of each; 14 & Trout inch minimum size limit Hoh River, Pacific Coastal Salmon May 16 Aug. Bait, treble and barbed hooks no more than 1 adult; up to 6 total salmon including jacks; Area 31, Wednesday May 16-June 30 and Sept. 1 release wild Chinook. Sunday only to Feb. 28. and Trout Sept. 1 Nov. 30 May 16 May 31, Wednesday Sunday only June 1 Apr. 15 no more than 2 hatchery or wild adults; up to 6 total salmon including jacks except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained 2 cutthroat trout or 2 hatchery steelhead or one of each; 14 inch minimum size limit
Area Species Season Gear Daily Limit Hoh River and South Fork Hoh River All species June 1 Apr. 15. *Fly fishing only in portion of Hoh River from ¼ mile below Hoh Campground downstream to boat launch located above S. Fork confluence (fly with a single barbless hook that is ½ inch or smaller measured from point to shank, and a fly line; fixed spool reels, bait, and a weight attached to the leader or line are prohibited) Ozette River All species Aug. 1 Feb. 28 Salmon Sept. 1 Nov. 30 Bait, treble and barbed hooks Queets River, mainstem, below Hartzell boat launch June 1 Aug. 31 Sept. 1-Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Feb. 28 Bait, treble and barbed hooks Bait, treble and barbed hooks except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained no more than 2 hatchery or wild adults; up to 6 total salmon including jacks; release Chinook except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained 2 hatchery steelhead identified by dorsal fin height less than 2 1/8 inches (most credit cards are 2 1/8 inches wide) or with adipose or ventral clips may be retained March 1 Apr.15 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained All other species June 1 April 15. Bait, treble and barbed hooks Sept. 1 Feb. 28 Queets River, mainstem, from Hartzell boat launch upstream to Streaters Crossing boat launch Queets River, mainstem, from Streaters Crossing boat launch upstream June 1 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Feb. 28 March 1 Apr.15 All other June 1 Apr. 15 species including salmon All species June 1 Feb. 28 Bait, treble and barbed hooks. Bait, treble and barbed hooks Nov. 15 Feb. 28 except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained 2 hatchery steelhead with dorsal fin height less than 2 1/8 inches (most credit cards are 2 1/8 inches wide) or with adipose or ventral clips 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained from Oct. 1-Nov. 14 and 2 hatchery steelhead identified by dorsal fin height less than 2 1/8 inches (most credit cards are 2 1/8 inches wide) or with adipose or ventral clips may be retained from Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Mar. 1-Apr. 15 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained
Area Species Season Gear Daily Limit Quillayute River, Salmon Feb. 1 Aug. 31 Daily limit 6. No more than 2 adults may be retained. Release wild Pacific Coastal Area only from Feb. 1-Apr. Chinook and wild coho. Sept. 1 Oct. 31 30 and from Sept. 1-Oct. 31. Bait, Daily limit 6. Up to 3 adults may be retained. Up to 2 adults may treble and barbed hooks all be Chinook. Release wild coho. other dates. Nov. 1-Nov. 30 Daily limit 6. Up to 3 adults may be retained. A total of 2 adults Quinault River, mainstem, downstream from Upper Quinault Bridge and Trout May 1 May 31 June 1 Nov. 30 Dec. 1 Apr.30 All Species June 1 Mar. 31 may be Chinook and wild coho. except 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained 2 cutthroat trout or 2 hatchery steelhead or one of each; 14 inch minimum size limit 2 cutthroat trout or 2 hatchery steelhead or one of each; 14 inch minimum size limit for all species except 2 hatchery adipose clipped steelhead may be retained Salmon River (tributary to the Queets) Salmon Sept. 1 Nov. 30 Bait, treble and barbed hooks Up to 3 adult coho may be retained; up to 6 total salmon including jacks; release Chinook June 1 Aug. 31 Sept. 1 Nov 14. Bait, treble, and barbed hooks except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained Skokomish River, North Fork All other species Nov. 15-Feb. 28 June 1 Feb. 28 Bait, treble, and barbed hooks. Bait, treble and barbed hooks Sept. 1 Feb. 28 All species June 1 Sept. 15 2 hatchery steelhead identified by dorsal fin height less than 2 1/8 inches (most credit cards are 2 1/8 inches wide) or with adipose or ventral clips may be retained
Lakes and Reservoirs Area Species Season Gear Daily Limit High elevation lakes Rainbow and cutthroat trout 5 trout, no minimum size limit. (above 400 meters or Last Saturday in April- Bait, treble and 1,300 feet) Eastern brook Oct. 31 barbed hooks No daily, size, or possession limits. See Fish Consumption trout Advisory. Irely Lake All species Last Saturday in April- Artificial lures Oct. 31 with barbless single Artificial lures Lake Crescent All species June 1 Oct. 31 with barbless single point hook, 2 ounce Lake Ozette Mills Reservoir All species All species Marine Fish and Shellfish Seasons and Limits General Regulations Last Saturday in April- Oct. 31 Last Saturday in April- Oct. 31 weight restriction Artificial lures with barbless single Artificial lures with barbless single except no daily, size, or possession limits for yellow perch, bass, pikeminnow and bullhead. See Fish Consumption Advisory. Harvest of Seaweed (algae) is prohibited. Harvest of unclassified invertebrates and fish is prohibited. While fishing from the intertidal zone, bait and barbed hooks may be used but the harvest of any organisms for use as bait is prohibited. Forage fish (Herring/Sardine/Sandlance/Anchovy/Surf smelt) may be harvested using a dip net, with a maximum mesh size of ½ stretched mesh. Only one dip net may be used at a time and must be held by the rigid handle at all times. Prior to harvesting shellfish, check current marine toxin conditions at the Washington Department of Health Marine Toxins/PSP Hotline (1-800-562-5632 or http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm). All coastal waters in the intertidal zone of Olympic National Park are closed to the taking of fish and shellfish except as provided below. Razor clams can only be harvested in the Kalaloch region during announced seasons. Harvesters may have in their possession the equivalent of one daily limit. Minimum Species Size Daily Limit Season MARINE FISH Herring/Sardine/Sandlance /Anchovy/Surf smelt None 10 pounds all species combined Year-round Lingcod 24 2 but no more than 15 bottomfish in the aggregate regardless of species April 16 Oct. 15 Rockfish None 10 in aggregate. Release all canary and yelloweye rockfish. No more than 15 bottomfish in the aggregate regardless of species Year-round Greenling None 15 but no more than 15 bottomfish in the aggregate regardless of species Year round Cabezon None 2 but no more than 15 bottomfish in the aggregate regardless of species Year-round
All coastal waters in the intertidal zone of Olympic National Park are closed to the taking of fish and shellfish except as provided below. Razor clams can only be harvested in the Kalaloch region during announced seasons. Harvesters may have in their possession the equivalent of one daily limit. Species Minimum Size Daily Limit Season Surfperch None 15 but no more than 15 bottomfish in the aggregate regardless of species Year-round All other intertidal fish (unclassified) No harvest of any fish for bait use INVERTEBRATES Goose neck barnacles None 10 pounds whole or 5 lbs stalks November 1 to March 31 Horse clams None 7 (must keep first 7) November 1 to March 31 Littleneck/ butter/ manila clams/ cockles 1 ½ 10 pounds in shell or 40 total clams November 1 to March 31 Mussels None 10 pounds in shell November 1 to March 31 Razor clams None 15 (must keep first 15) To Be Announced Dungeness crab 6 6 males only, with no retention of soft-shell December 1 to September 15 for pots, other Red rock crab 5 Abalone Geoducks Octopus Oysters Sand shrimp Scallops (all species) Sea cucumbers Sea urchins (all species) Shrimp (all species) All other intertidal invertebrates (unclassified) No harvest of any invertebrates for bait use crabs 6 of either sex, with no retention of soft-shell crabs gear year round December 1 to September 15 for pots, other gear year round